Some fans left Celtic Park saying that Kieran Tierney didn’t have his best game in green and white, and they’re not wrong for saying that. No player stood out during Wednesday night’s stalemate.

But I’m surprised that, at least leaving my section, no one was talking about what he did in the second half.

For the first 15 minutes of the second half, Celtic looked energised. Yang Hyun-jun, introduced at half-time, was electric down the left. He found space, took on his man, and moved into dangerous positions with real intent.

But from the stands, one thing stood out clearly – he was thriving because he was being coached through it by Tierney.

The returning full-back, who started the match and was subbed off later in the second half, was constantly giving instructions from the moment the winger came on.

Tierney was telling him when to move, when to play the pass, when to keep his run going, even when to shape his body to receive the ball. It was the little details that made a big difference at this level.

Yang’s game in that opening spell of the second half was all about timing, movement, and decisiveness. And it was no coincidence. Tierney’s guidance helped the winger find the rhythm that Celtic had been sorely lacking. The pair combined well, with KT overlapping and supporting, but it was the vocal coaching that really stood out.

After Tierney was subbed, you could see the dip. Yang’s influence waned. The clarity in his movement disappeared. It wasn’t a physical drop-off, it was the absence of that live, in-game direction that had helped him flourish.

For all the focus on tactics and transfers, sometimes the difference is as simple as having a leader on the pitch willing to demand more. Tierney was that on Wednesday night.